Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/C516087/1
Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Initiative in QUEST (MARQUEST).
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor A Watson, University of Essex, Biological Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J Blackford, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor J Holt, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor J Aiken, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, CASIX
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor A Oschlies, Kiel University, Marine Science Institute
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr M Johnston, University of Essex, Mathematical Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr R Proctor, University of Tasmania, Centre for Marine Science
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr J Wolf, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor K Haines, University of Reading, Meteorology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor J Huthnance, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor P Challenor, University of Exeter, Mathematics and Statistics
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor R Geider, University of Essex, Life Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor TR Anderson, National Oceanography Centre, Science and Technology
- Co-Investigator:
- Prof. I Allen, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth Marine Lab
- Co-Investigator:
- Dr C Lequere, Max Planck Inst for Microstructure Phys, Biogeochemistry (Jena)
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor AJ Souza, Ctr for Res & Advan Studies (CINVESTAV), UNLISTED
- Grant held at:
- University of Essex, Biological Sciences
- Science Area:
- Marine
- Earth
- Atmospheric
- Overall Classification:
- Marine
- ENRIs:
- Global Change
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Biogeochemical Cycles
- Ocean Circulation
- Ocean - Atmosphere Interact.
- Land - Ocean Interactions
- Climate & Climate Change
- Abstract:
- Ocean biogeochemical cycles and ecosystems are an important part of the 'Earth system' - the set of interlinked physical, chemical and biological processes, which shape the environment at the Earth's surface. These biogeochemical cycles are not only important for the oceans themselves (their composition and the kinds of creatures that live in them) but also for the climate of the planet, through their fundamental influence on the composition of the atmosphere (in particular, 'greenhouse' gases such as carbon dioxide, and other climatically important gases such as di-methyl sulphide). Historically, global ocean biogeochemical models have used simple representations of biological processes that are constrained tightly by the physical and chemical environment, using assumptions such as single-nutrient limitation and constant Redfield ratios - utilization and release of elements in constant proportions. As our knowledge has grown, the shortcomings of this approach have become increasingly apparent, giving rise to progressively more elaborate models of the ecosystem - from models that include a single explicitly modelled plant (phyto-) and animal (zoo-) plankton to increasingly, a variety of different functional types of plankton that mediate different geochemical transformations. While these more complex models have the potential to reproduce more faithfully ocean biogeochemistry and how it will respond to changes in climate and ocean circulation, the increased complexity brings with it the penalty that many more parameters must be known in order to specify the system. It is not necessarily clear how to validate such models - that is, to tell how well they are working - or what is the optimum complexity of model required to address a given problem. We are proposing a consortium of several groups involved in biogeochemical modelling in the UK. Currently, the groups work separately, each on models occupying a different place on the spectrum of complexity sketched above. In MARQUEST they will co-operate, comparing the predictions of their models and analyzing the causes of their differences and similarities. We will also examine more fundamental modelling approaches to the planktonic ecosystem, with the aim of clarifying what we can expect from the current types of model. New research outputs from MARQUEST will include: the development of new methods of validating models, making use of remote sensing ocean colour data, in-situ data sets and the observations ongoing in major European programmes such as Carbo-Ocean and Euroceans: comparison of different ecosystem models run in the same circulation codes: development of a module to simulate the coastal ecosystems, but useable in global ocean biogeochemical simulations, and an accurate physical simulation of the North Atlantic guided by data assimilation into which ecosystem simulations can be embedded. This will enable detailed comparison of ecosystem models with observations over recent decades, including a hindcast of the variation in air-sea fluxes of gases - of great use for helping to constrain both land and ocean components of the sink for anthropogenic carbon dioxide. We will also make best estimates of the evolution of the CO2, oxygen and di-methylsuiphide fluxes from ocean to atmosphere over the next 50 and 100 years.
- Period of Award:
- 1 Feb 2006 - 31 Jan 2010
- Value:
- £150,599 Split Award
Authorised funds only
- NERC Reference:
- NE/C516087/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Directed Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- QUEST
This grant award has a total value of £150,599
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £6,348 | £96,201 | £3,798 | £44,252 |
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